Vintage radio safety - Page 3 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

transistor_tom · 15th Apr 2016, 2:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by G8HQP Dave

Beryllium oxide can be found inside RF power transistors and some high power valves, but as long as the device remains intact there is no danger.

I've had a look at it - there's a small amount of dust and detritus in the bottom of the chassis - the whole radio is intact (including all of the transistors from what I can see) but is this dust (it's dark coloured) likely to be bad? Also I've checked on various websites - the transistors are shown to be made of Germanium, does this mean is Beryllia free?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyso_Bl

Welcome to our world...

Is there a cure? A vaccine? Or do I just have to accept my fate?

GeoffK · 15th Apr 2016, 4:35 pm

It is wise not to breath in any type of dust wherever it comes from, though it might just make you sneeze as a natural defence. You can buy masks though I don't think they are necessary for such a small item. The dust can be brushed out with a clean dry paint brush preferable outdoors, or a vacuum cleaner on a low setting to capture the dust as it is brushed out. The transistors and other components in this type of radio do not contain such materials as Beryllium. If you just handle them normally they are perfectly safe. As with all things wash your hands before touching food.

It would be useful if you could post a picture of the radio and say what level of restoration you are going to do.

paulsherwin · 15th Apr 2016, 4:37 pm

There is absolutely no chance of beryllia or anything else particularly harmful in a 1960 domestic transistor radio. Forum members have been discussing some very specialised and exotic equipment in this thead, none of which you will ever encounter in domestic radio restoration.

The dust is almost certainly just that, dust. Vacuum it out in the normal way.

transistor_tom · 17th Apr 2016, 8:00 pm

Hi guys. Me again, does this dial look like it's been painted with radium paint? I'm thinking of the white markings on the lower half. As always, thanks for your wonderful insights! This hobby is addictive!

AC/HL · 17th Apr 2016, 11:00 pm

Not a chance. Radium paint was used in WWII aircraft dials, and possibly clock and watch hands from the same period, but not since. There is little of consequence in domestic equipment from the valve era, and nothing in transistor equipment. Professional equipment may have used some, as above, but even that is perfectly safe unless grossly abused.
As in every aspect of life, theoretical risks abound, but that's all they are.

Sideband · 18th Apr 2016, 12:00 am

To be honest with you, if you are worrying (in these cases completely unnecessarily) about what may or may not lurk in any old radio, then with respect perhaps you should consider a different hobby.....

By the way, I'm semi retired at 63 and have been fixing and messing about with radio's since I was 12...and believe me, back in the mid 60's when I started, there was far less interest in H and S. Apart from the nasty oil-filled line transformers in Murphy TV's and asbestos washers found insulating some droppers (both of which I knew not to touch) there is nothing at all that can cause you any harm.

Now if you break open a valve, there are toxic substances in it. If you smash a CRT, the phosphor screen is poisonous. Very old valve radio's sometimes had cadmium plated chassis. All of this is simple. If you break a valve or CRT, dispose of it carefully, if you touch a cadmium plated chassis (I have twice today), wash you hands afterwards (it's only the dust that's a bit dodgy anyway). Asbestos we all know about the dust.

Transistors are encapsulated in plastic or metal so all the nasty chemicals are sealed away. Valves are glass or metal so again all the nasty stuff is sealed away. Capacitors and resistors are likewise sealed......basically.....Don't Worry

paulsherwin · 18th Apr 2016, 1:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by transistor_tom

Hi guys. Me again, does this dial look like it's been painted with radium paint? I'm thinking of the white markings on the lower half. As always, thanks for your wonderful insights! This hobby is addictive!

Why ever do you think this radio dial is painted with radium paint? Where did you get that idea from?

I don't know of any radio tuning scale of any era that uses radioactive paint. What would be the point?

trobbins · 18th Apr 2016, 6:07 am

Maybe not in radios as much as general vintage audio gear, were metal canned oil-filled paper capacitors. You may come across a leaky one and have to clean away an area of residue. Definitely take care to reduce exposure to the residue and any free oil, in case it is of PCB origin.

Asbestos has showed up in early Philips audio amps as lagging, and in test equipment that uses power resistors - I have a GR 783 audio power meter that some factory worker lovingly drilled many holes through an asbestos barrier board to assist with wire routing.

Sideband · 18th Apr 2016, 12:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sideband

Now if you break open a valve, there are toxic substances in it. If you smash a CRT, the phosphor screen is poisonous. Very old valve radio's sometimes had cadmium plated chassis. All of this is simple. If you break a valve or CRT, dispose of it carefully, if you touch a cadmium plated chassis (I have twice today), wash you hands afterwards (it's only the dust that's a bit dodgy anyway). Asbestos we all know about the dust.

Transistors are encapsulated in plastic or metal so all the nasty chemicals are sealed away. Valves are glass or metal so again all the nasty stuff is sealed away. Capacitors and resistors are likewise sealed......basically.....Don't Worry

In the same context, florescent tubes (and CFL) lamps are toxic when broken. Starters used for the florescent tubes have a bead of mercury in them...also toxic when broken. There are also hundreds of everyday things that are toxic when broken or damaged. Many of these things have been in use for decades...we're all still here and as long as these items are disposed of properly, there is no danger.

Peter.N. · 18th Apr 2016, 12:28 pm

Its amazing how many of us have survived since the war judging by all these toxic substances about, especially as large numbers of people lived in asbestos houses for many years and at school we handled mercury in science lessons - then probably eat our sandwiches.

Peter

turretslug · 18th Apr 2016, 12:35 pm

A lot of the general hazardous waste legislation came in because of concerns over vast tonnages of discarded goods sitting in landfill for decades or centuries, rotting and corroding away and eventually finding its way into watercourses or being taken up by crops and livestock (and anyone who had been to a "traditional" refuse dump and didn't get concerned,if not angered, at wasteful consumerism just wasn't thinking, IMHO....). Putting things in perspective, working on a few old radios a year as a pastime in dry and ventilated conditions, using common sense, washing hands etc. will be as harmless as most other things that folk pursue in their spare time. As I like to remind myself, simply metabolising oxygen is harmful in the long term!

15th Apr 2016, 4:35 pm	#42
GeoffK Heptode Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 602	Re: Vintage radio safety It is wise not to breath in any type of dust wherever it comes from, though it might just make you sneeze as a natural defence. You can buy masks though I don't think they are necessary for such a small item. The dust can be brushed out with a clean dry paint brush preferable outdoors, or a vacuum cleaner on a low setting to capture the dust as it is brushed out. The transistors and other components in this type of radio do not contain such materials as Beryllium. If you just handle them normally they are perfectly safe. As with all things wash your hands before touching food. It would be useful if you could post a picture of the radio and say what level of restoration you are going to do.

15th Apr 2016, 4:37 pm	#43
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,934	Re: Vintage radio safety There is absolutely no chance of beryllia or anything else particularly harmful in a 1960 domestic transistor radio. Forum members have been discussing some very specialised and exotic equipment in this thead, none of which you will ever encounter in domestic radio restoration. The dust is almost certainly just that, dust. Vacuum it out in the normal way.

17th Apr 2016, 8:00 pm	#44
transistor_tom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Vintage radio safety Hi guys. Me again, does this dial look like it's been painted with radium paint? I'm thinking of the white markings on the lower half. As always, thanks for your wonderful insights! This hobby is addictive! Attached Thumbnails

17th Apr 2016, 11:00 pm	#45
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Vintage radio safety Not a chance. Radium paint was used in WWII aircraft dials, and possibly clock and watch hands from the same period, but not since. There is little of consequence in domestic equipment from the valve era, and nothing in transistor equipment. Professional equipment may have used some, as above, but even that is perfectly safe unless grossly abused. As in every aspect of life, theoretical risks abound, but that's all they are.

18th Apr 2016, 12:00 am	#46
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,567	Re: Vintage radio safety To be honest with you, if you are worrying (in these cases completely unnecessarily) about what may or may not lurk in any old radio, then with respect perhaps you should consider a different hobby..... By the way, I'm semi retired at 63 and have been fixing and messing about with radio's since I was 12...and believe me, back in the mid 60's when I started, there was far less interest in H and S. Apart from the nasty oil-filled line transformers in Murphy TV's and asbestos washers found insulating some droppers (both of which I knew not to touch) there is nothing at all that can cause you any harm. Now if you break open a valve, there are toxic substances in it. If you smash a CRT, the phosphor screen is poisonous. Very old valve radio's sometimes had cadmium plated chassis. All of this is simple. If you break a valve or CRT, dispose of it carefully, if you touch a cadmium plated chassis (I have twice today), wash you hands afterwards (it's only the dust that's a bit dodgy anyway). Asbestos we all know about the dust. Transistors are encapsulated in plastic or metal so all the nasty chemicals are sealed away. Valves are glass or metal so again all the nasty stuff is sealed away. Capacitors and resistors are likewise sealed......basically.....Don't Worry __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

18th Apr 2016, 6:07 am	#48
trobbins Heptode Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 901	Re: Vintage radio safety Maybe not in radios as much as general vintage audio gear, were metal canned oil-filled paper capacitors. You may come across a leaky one and have to clean away an area of residue. Definitely take care to reduce exposure to the residue and any free oil, in case it is of PCB origin. Asbestos has showed up in early Philips audio amps as lagging, and in test equipment that uses power resistors - I have a GR 783 audio power meter that some factory worker lovingly drilled many holes through an asbestos barrier board to assist with wire routing.

18th Apr 2016, 12:28 pm	#50
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: Vintage radio safety Its amazing how many of us have survived since the war judging by all these toxic substances about, especially as large numbers of people lived in asbestos houses for many years and at school we handled mercury in science lessons - then probably eat our sandwiches. Peter

18th Apr 2016, 12:35 pm	#51
turretslug Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 4,394	Re: Vintage radio safety A lot of the general hazardous waste legislation came in because of concerns over vast tonnages of discarded goods sitting in landfill for decades or centuries, rotting and corroding away and eventually finding its way into watercourses or being taken up by crops and livestock (and anyone who had been to a "traditional" refuse dump and didn't get concerned,if not angered, at wasteful consumerism just wasn't thinking, IMHO....). Putting things in perspective, working on a few old radios a year as a pastime in dry and ventilated conditions, using common sense, washing hands etc. will be as harmless as most other things that folk pursue in their spare time. As I like to remind myself, simply metabolising oxygen is harmful in the long term!